WARNING! Spoilers Ahead for Ultimate Wolverine #3

There’s one Wolverine, as shown in a recent Marvel comic. While Ultimate Wolverine #3 features versions of the characters that differ from what fans are used to, Kitty Pryde remains one of the few X-Men capable of taking Wolverine in a straight fight. Once the plucky young recruit who looked up to Wolverine, Kitty has since evolved into a formidable warrior, and her new incarnation in the Ultimate universe proves no different.

Coming from the creative team of Chris Condon and Alessandro Cappuccio, Ultimate Wolverine #3 introduces Black Widow, Gambit, and Kitty Pryde to the all-new Ultimate Universe. The three meet in the opening scene in the snowy environs outside Smolensk to discuss taking action against the Eurasian Alliance.

In this new Ultimate continuity, Kitty Pryde is a battle-scarred veteran who appears to have a romantic connection with Gambit. Together with Gambit and the Black Widow, Kitty helps fend off a group of Eurasian troops led by the Winter Soldier Logan at their opposition base.

Kitty Pryde vs. Logan: Unveiling the Hidden History in the Ultimate Universe

Reactivating Memories: Kitty’s Power to Tame a Deadly Winter Soldier

Kitty manages to escape the base with a group of children during the attack, but Logan manages to hitch a ride on the back of their truck. As soon as he jumps in the back and pops his claws, Kitty recognizes him, meaning that the two have a previously unrevealed history in the Ultimate universe. Kitty easily phases through his claw strikes, before reaching into his head and reactivating some old memories. Kitty then kicks him off the back of the moving truck, as a voiceover wonders why Logan doesn’t .

Scattered throughout Logan’s memories are some familiar scenes from his past, but the brief glimpse of Logan slicing up a classic Sentinel seems to imply that some version of Xavier’s team has already existed in the Ultimate Universe. Kitty recognizing Logan also seems to confirm this, as the two characters clearly have some kind of history. Kitty also shows that she can handle Logan, who is perhaps more deadly than ever in his current state as the Winter Soldier of the Ultimate Universe.

Kitty Pryde’s Shadowcat Transformation: From Plucky Teen to Lethal Avenger

A Dark Evolution: How Kitty Pryde Embraced Her Ninja Legacy for Revenge

Kitty’s darker portrayal in the Ultimate Universe may be a complete 180 from how fans her as the plucky young teenage recruit from the eighties, but it’s entirely in line with her character’s recent evolution. In the main 616 continuity, Kitty returned to her ninja roots, first explored in the Kitty Pryde and Wolverine-centric miniseries, where she was possessed by the warrior Ogun and trained to become a ninja master. Taking on the name Shadowcat, Kitty learned to use her phasing powers to devastating effect alongside her ninja training.

Kitty embraced her Shadowcat persona again after the Hellfire Gala massacre, taking violent action against the Orchis organization in retaliation for what they did to Krakoa. Sporting a sleek new outfit designed by artist Peach Momoko, the new Shadowcat became a literal dark wind of death, wielding the swords once given to her by Ogun as she set out on a lethal mission of revenge against Orchis. It was a strikingly dark turn for Kitty Pryde, but it also highlighted just how powerful she can be when using her abilities with lethal intent.

The Classic X-Men Are Slowly Coming Together in Ultimate Wolverine

Kitty Pryde vs. Wolverine: The Lethal Power of the X-Men’s Ultimate Tactician

Kitty’s more tactical use of her powers during combat allows her to gain the upper hand on Logan, but other encounters have proved to be far more lethal. What If?... Wolverine: Enemy of the State depicts an alternate continuity where Wolverine never regained control of himself after being brainwashed by Hydra into becoming an assassin. That story ended with a final confrontation between Logan and Kitty, who was only able to stop Wolverine by reaching into Logan’s mind and killing him by solidifying her hand in his brain.

Kitty doesn’t have to take things that far in their Ultimate Universe encounter, but using her powers to reach into Logan’s mind should be a reminder of just how deadly Kitty can be. It will be interesting to see what more is revealed in issues of Ultimate Wolverine, as it appears that Logan will stop acting as the Winter Soldier and gain control of his thoughts once more. Whatever happens next, at least fans know that Kitty Pryde of the X-Men can defeat Wolverine at any time.

Ultimate Wolverine #1 is available now from Marvel Comics!